Vol. XII 



IQI2 



1 Jackson, Haunts of Ihe Spotted Bower-Bird. 85 



bushes. I tried to follow the bird, but was unable to do so, as it 

 dodged me in the thick timber. No. 2 bower is built under one of 

 these bushes. In No. 3 bower one of the birds was busy fixing the 

 grass upright again and adding more, thus endeavouring to repair 

 the damage done by the cattle. I had it under observation for 

 three-quarters of an hour, and it was busy all the time. 



Again very hot, causing all the birds to go about with their mouths 

 open. Heat unbearable at 4.30 p.m. Mice troublesome. Have now 

 caught 27 in my camp ; the bush is full of them. Watched the two 

 Bower-Birds at No. i bower, but they still show no signs of breeding. 

 They have added a lot more material to the decorations of this play- 

 ground, including lead capsule from pickle bottle and a few round 

 tin discs from preserved meat tins ; these were collected from about 

 my eamp, and were fresh and bright. 



22nd October — The Bower-Birds' notes roused me at 5 10 a.m., 

 and the birds were about my camp again, mimicking various sounds, 

 including the notes of Whistling Eagle, Brown Hawk, Struthidea, 

 Magpie, Grallina, &c., also the peculiar noise before referred to, 

 very much resembling the sound produced by sheep and Emus 

 rushing through wires of a fence ; also a noise resembling sheep 

 walking through small dead fallen branches. A great deal of the 

 mimicry by these birds is carried on at early morning. 



Noticed many butterflies about lately, the white and brown 

 Belenoistentonia fabricins, and collected specimens. 



23^^ Oc/ofeey —Bower-Birds about camp again early this morning. 

 I found a beautiful nest of the Lanceolate Honey-eater suspended 

 from the end of a drooping limb of a green coolibah {Eucalyptus 

 bicolor, F. v. M.) In the same tree was a nest of a Crested Pigeon 

 (Ocyphaps lophofes), with bird sitting. Both nests contained eggs. 

 Also found the nest of a Crested Bell-Bird fOreoica) in a leopard tree, 

 9 feet up Noted nest of Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen) in a white-wood, 

 with the bird sitting Saw Butcher-Bird (Cracticus destructor) 

 swooping at a goanna which had attempted to retreat into the hollow 

 spout of a dead tree. Close by the nest of this bird was observed, 

 containing only two eggs. I think all the birds have to fight their 

 own battles frequently with these goannas, and no doubt many 

 nests are robbed of eggs and young by the reptiles. On the other 

 hand, they are useful in destroying many young rabbits. Found two 

 new nests of the Yellow-throated Friar-Bird, and saw Orioles (Oriolus 

 Sagittarius), Black-faced Cuckoo-Shrikes. Spiny-cheeked Honey-eatei'S, 

 Lanceolate Honey-eaters, &c., in a clump of green belahs. Saw 

 another nest of the Whistling Eagle placed high up in a blood-wood 

 (Eucalyptus terminalis, F. v. M.) Found nest of fresh appearance of 

 Spotted Bower-Bird placed up 20 feet in the top of a green budda 

 tree {Eremophila mitchelli, Benth.) The nest is a fine specimen. 

 The surroundings at this part were quite barren, without a blade 

 of grass, and all had a very arid and drought-stricken appearance ; yet 

 this is the kind of place these interesting birds love to dwell in. 



Moving on eastwards, I walked over a vast area of sand, the heat 

 of which could be plainly felt through my thick boots. At this part 

 a Bower-Bird flew up from a clump of long, stiff grass {Xerotes leuco- 

 cephala, R. Br.) growing in the hot sand and bearing large round balls 

 or seed-pods by the ends of thin stalks — they were nearly as large 

 as walnuts. Some had two pods on a stem. I never saw the grass 

 before. Verv hot, and Barcoo flies most troublesome. Saw several 



